Recipe: Tortilla Casserole (using ground beef and ricotta)

TORTILLA CASSEROLE

1 pound ground round or ground sirloin
30 ounces spaghetti sauce*
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 (4 ounce) can green chiles, drained and finely chopped
2 cups part skim ricotta cheese
2 eggs
8 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
4 tablespoons sliced black olives

Brown beef in a skillet; drain thoroughly.

Add the sauce, lemon pepper and green chiles. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Mix ricotta cheese and eggs in small bowl, blending well; set aside.

Use 2 pie-plates or similar sized oven-proof dishes. Place 1/2 cup of the sauce in each, spreading to cover bottom of dish. Place one tortilla in each dish. Spread with 1/8th of the ricotta-egg mixture. Top with about 1/3 cup of meat sauce mixture, 1/3 cup grated cheese and sprinkle sliced olives over top of each. Continue layering, ending with meat sauce and jack cheese. You will have 2 stacks of 4 tortillas each.

Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Let stand for few minutes, then slice into pie-shaped wedges and serve immediately.

*Use the canned sauce of your choice, about a 30 ounce jar.

Makes 8 servings
Source: Jo Anne Merrill
From: Csally - 01-18-98